Category: Sports

When it came down to the Braves’ All-Star selection, there was not a more deserving candidate than dynamo center fielder Ender Inciarte. As he stepped onto the field at Marlins Park on Tuesday night, Inciarte felt honored to be a part of history.
“Just everything about the game,” Inciarte said. “Once you heard the national anthem and you realize that you are standing in line with all those guys, it is really special. I am happy with today and hopefully I can repeat it again.”

Inciarte made his All-Star debut in a familiar position in the sixth inning of 2017 MLB All-Star Game presented by Mastercard at Marlins Park, taking over in center field for Rockies All-Star Charlie Blackmon.

He went 0-for-2 in a game the National League lost 2-1 to the American League in 10 innings. In his first at-bat he hit a liner that was robbed by A’s first baseman Yonder Alonso.

Inciarte endured a similar fate in his second at-bat, grounding out after working a full count against Indians reliever Andrew Miller in the 10th inning.

“It was the best and something you dream of as a kid,” Inciarte said. “But once you are here it’s a fun moment and I am never going to forget about it.”

Inciarte has been the catalyst for the Braves this season. He has guided the Braves to a 42-45 record and proven his value as the team’s leadoff hitter. He owns a .302 batting average with career-high seven home runs at the break.

A key to Inciarte’s dazzling first-half performance may be an improved approach at the plate. He is taking more pitches and staying back on breaking balls. Since the 2016 All-Star break, Inciarte has a .319 batting average with 54 walks and nine home runs. He has also hit the ball to all fields, and owns a .422 slugging percentage in that span.

As a result, this approach has allowed Inciarte to rank third in MLB with 112 hits. He also has 58 runs scored and sports a 2.1 WAR this season. Defensively, he also has a leads the league with three five-star catches according to Statcast™.

Inciarte is trending in the right direction as the Braves try to catch the Washington Nationals in the National League East. The Braves are 9 1/2 games back and have a tough stretch with series against the D-backs, Cubs and Dodgers to close out July.

However, Inciarte believes that the team can make some noise with key players like Freddie Freeman and Sean Rodriguez coming back from injuries.

“We have a lot of faith in our ballclub and our teammates,” Inciarte said. “We have been playing good baseball and hopefully at the end of the year, we can surprise a lot of people.”

As the fall sports season gets ready to crank up, Thunder Radio sports continues our series of previews for the fall prep sports teams. Each day, we will spotlight a different team as we count down to the opening of practices and games of the upcoming season. Today, we look at the Coffee County Middle School volleyball team.
The Lady Raiders got the early jump after the dead period as they began practice on Sunday at a team camp at CHS. Coach Malaysha Pack begins her 2nd season at the helm of the Lady Raider program in its 5th season. Graduation losses left Coach Pack with 2 returning starters in Kiya Ferrell and Lauren Brandt. This pair of 8th graders give the Lady Raiders some experience in the passing and net game which appears to be the strong suit for the 2017 Coffee Middle team. At the conclusion of Tuesday’s camp, Coach Pack was pleased with the improvement of her 16 person squad as she plans to carry 8 varsity players and 8 JV players.
Coming out of camp, Coach Pack also recognized the play of 8th graders Maddy Sussen and Aly Harris. “I have seen a lot of improvement at camp this week” said Pack while also stressing the need to improve in the service game. 2017 marks the first year for a full conference schedule for Coffee County as North Franklin, South Franklin and Harris have all added teams in the past two years.
The Central Tennessee Conference tournament will be held on September 29th and 30th at White County. The Lady Raiders will participate in a scrimmage play day on Saturday, July 29th at the Joe Frank Patch Memorial Gym. The Lady Raiders open the season on August 10th when they travel to Decherd to take on North Franklin. That match is scheduled for 5 PM. The Lady Raiders will be featured on the September 11th edition of the First National Bank Home Town Sports Series when they host Harris.
Coach Pack will also be a guest on the July 22nd edition of the Coffee Coaches Show to talk about the upcoming season. The Coffee Coaches Show is heard each Saturday at 10 AM here on Thunder Radio as it is broadcast live from the showroom of Al White Ford/Lincoln.

Familiar numerals will accompany the return of two players to the Nashville Predators.

Forward Scott Hartnell, who spent seven seasons in Nashville after being drafted by the Preds in the First Round of the 2000 NHL Draft, will wear No. 17 starting this fall. Likewise, goaltender Anders Lindback, who was selected by Nashville in the 2008 NHL Draft, will retake No. 39.

Center Nick Bonino, who inked a four-year contract with the Predators on July 1, will maintain the No. 13, which he has worn for the majority of his career in the NHL.

Defenseman Alexei Emelin, acquired via trade with the Vegas Golden Knights, will select his new number at a later date. The No. 74 Emelin utilized for five years in Montreal with the Canadiens is currently worn by goaltender Juuse Saros in Nashville

David Shaw heard the doubters piping up about Marcus Mariota before the 2015 NFL Draft, and he just shook his head.

The Stanford head coach knew they didn’t know Mariota like he did.

“It is a tough transition from a spread offense to the NFL, no matter what anybody says. And I have been beating this drum as well,’’ Shaw said. “But for me, when I watched Marcus, he wasn’t a “spread” quarterback. He was a good quarterback. He could play from the pocket, and he could make all the throws from the pocket. I saw him check off from one (receiver) to 2 to 3, and saw him go through progressions. So for me, I always thought he had the skill set on top of the arm strength and athletic ability to get out of trouble as a runner, and he could throw the ball on the run as well as anybody. He had everything it took to be successful in the NFL.”

The Titans thought so, too, and it’s why they took the former Oregon quarterback with the second overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft. He’s been a big hit since.

Shaw, who coached against Mariota in three games in the Pac-12, believes Mariota is on the brink of something really special heading into Year 3.
“I think he is just starting out,’’ Shaw said. “He is going to be one of the top-tier quarterbacks in the NFL.”

Shaw made his comments to Titans Online in Philadelphia earlier this offseason, when he was on hand as an NFL Network analyst for the NFL Draft. Mariota threw for 715 yards with five touchdowns and two interceptions in three games vs Stanford from 2012-14, while also rushing for 168 yards and two more touchdowns in those games. Stanford won two of the three, but Oregon and Mariota won the last one, in 2014, with a 258-yard passing performance on a day when Mariota accounted for 343 yards of total offense and four touchdowns.

Shaw said he’s always admired Mariota for more than just the way he plays the game, however.

“When we beat them and when we lost to him, he played exactly the same. He played as hard as he could from start to finish,” Shaw said of Mariota. “And he was the ultimate competitor and the ultimate gentleman. This is the kind of guy you want your daughter to marry, the quarterback you want to have on your team because he is a relentless competitor, he is not selfish. He is not arrogant. He is a team guy all the way and I am glad to see him continue to grow in the NFL.”

In his second NFL season, Mariota completed 276-of-451 passes for 3,426 yards, 26 touchdowns, nine interceptions and a 95.6 passer in 2016 before suffering a fractured fibula in a Week 16 contest at Jacksonville. The quarterback added 60 rushing attempts for 349 yards and two touchdowns.

Mariota’s 95.6 passer rating ranks third in franchise history for a single season, behind only Warren Moon’s 96.8 in 1990, when he was the Associ­ated Press Offensive Player of the Year, and Steve McNair’s 100.4 in 2003, when he was the NFL’s Co-MVP.

Mariota would’ve played in the Pro Bowl if he hadn’t suffered the injury. From 2015-16, Mariota has thrown for 6,244 yards and 45 touchdowns, while throwing only 19 interceptions. His 93.6 passer rating during that time period ranks sixth in NFL history.

Shaw believes Mariota has already proven plenty to his critics, and he believes he’ll prove even more this fall.

“I’m not surprised at all with his success, and he’s just going to keep getting better,” said Shaw, who spent nine seasons as an NFL assistant with stints for the Eagles, Raiders and Ravens. “Again, you heard him described as a ‘spread quarterback.’ When I see a spread quarterback that always throws the ball to No.1 and throws a bunch of bubbles, I worry about that guy standing in the pocket and throwing the ball 20 yards down the field and into tight windows with guys breathing down his neck.

“But I saw Marcus do that. I saw him stand in the pocket. I saw him stand in there, and move in the pocket. He only escaped when he needed to, and when he did he ran out he outran everybody. But he’s also one of those guys who can slide in the pocket and come off No.1, throw the ball to No.2 and be very accurate. And that is what it is about at this level. I saw him do it in college, and I’ve seen him do it in the NFL.”

As the fall sports season gets ready to crank up, Thunder Radio sports begins our series of previews for the fall prep sports teams.  Each day, we will spotlight a different team as we count down to the opening of practices and games of the upcoming season.  Today, we look at the Coffee County Central High School golf teams.

The Coffee County Central High School golf teams began practice at 9 AM on Monday at Willowbrook with tryouts for the upcoming season. Coach Mike Ray is looking to return golfers to the TSSAA State Tournament for the 6th consecutive year.  That task will be a difficult one indeed in the midst of a major rebuilding effort.

The Red Raiders are hoping to qualify an individual for the state tournament for the 5th consecutive season. The Red Raiders will be led by returning junior Samuel Prater who became the youngest golfer to ever compete for the Red Raiders at state in 2016.  Prater finished with a 2 day total of 162.  Also returning for the Raiders is 2016 All-District golfer Austin Farris who has come close to qualifying for the state tournament the last 2 seasons.  Also expected to score well for a talented Raider team are Reid Lawrence, Matthew Hale and Josh Perry.

The girls’ team is coming off 4 straight appearances as a team and an individual appearance in 2012.  With that said, the Lady Raiders will have no returning varsity players when the season starts on July 24^th at WIllowbrook against Grundy County.   Both Raider teams will compete in the Lakewood Country Club Preseason tournament on July 20^th.

The Raider golfers will hold a second day of tryouts on Thursday at 2 PM at Willowbrook.  Students who will be at Coffee County CHS that are interested in trying out, must have signed and completed Physical and Parental Consent forms with them when they arrive.  Players must also bring their own golf clubs.   The physical form can be found at: http://tssaa.org/wp-content/uploads/Forms/med01.pdf

Ready to see the Titans in training camp?

Well, it’s time to start filling out the calendar with all the dates open to fans.

This year’s schedule includes 13 open practices, including two morning practices with the Carolina Panthers at Saint Thomas Sports Park.

The Titans will kick off training camp on Saturday, July 29 at 2:40 p.m., the first of four straight days open to fans.

The Titans are scheduled to hold four evening practices, including a 6-8 p.m. practice at Nissan Stadium on Saturday, August 5.

Additional information about training camp, including the autograph schedule, will be released at a later date, but here’s the practice schedule:

Sat., July 29 (2:40 – 4:30 pm) – Practice at Saint Thomas Sports Park

Sun., July 30 (2:40 – 4:30 pm) – Practice at Saint Thomas Sports Park

Mon., July 31 (8:55 – 11:00 am) – Practice at Saint Thomas Sports Park

Tues., Aug. 1 (8:55 – 11:00 am) – Practice at Saint Thomas Sports Park

Thurs., Aug. 3 (8:55 – 11:00 am) – Practice at Saint Thomas Sports Park

Fri., Aug. 4 (7:15 – 9:00 pm) – Practice at Saint Thomas Sports Park

Sat., Aug. 5 (6:00 – 8:00 pm) – Practice at Nissan Stadium

Mon., Aug. 7 (6:55 – 9:00 pm) – Practice at Saint Thomas Sports Park

Wed., Aug. 9 (8:55 – 11:00 am) – Practice at Saint Thomas Sports Park

Thurs., Aug. 10 (8:55 – 11:00 am) – Practice at Saint Thomas Sports Park

Mon., Aug. 14 (6:55 – 8:55 pm) – Practice at Saint Thomas Sports Park

Wed., Aug. 16 (9:15 – 11:30 am) – Practice with Panthers at Saint Thomas Sports Park

Thurs., Aug. 17 (9:15 – 11:30 am) – Practice with Panthers at Saint Thomas Sports Park

The Nashville Sounds, in conjunction with Nashville Mayor Megan Barry, Metro Government, the Metro Sports Authority, and the Adventure Science Center, have announced the festivities for the total solar eclipse viewing party at First Tennessee Park on Monday, August 21.
For the first time since 1918, a total solar eclipse will sweep across the United States and Nashville is the largest city in its path.
The event will include music from the Nashville Symphony, science demonstrations with fun, hands-on activities from the Adventure Science Center, total solar eclipse viewing, and a separate Sounds baseball game to follow at 4:05 p.m.
Gates to First Tennessee Park open at 10:30 a.m. Mayor Barry will welcome the crowd at 11:00, with astronomy demonstrations and audience participation. Everybody in attendance will receive special solar glasses that will allow for safe viewing of the eclipse. Seating for the viewing party will be on a first-come, first-served basis (excluding club level and group areas).
The beginning of the eclipse will occur at 11:58 a.m. and last until totality at 1:29 p.m. At 1:25, the ballpark lights will be turned off in preparation for totality. The start of totality will begin at 1:27 and will last nearly two minutes.
Following the viewing party, the ballpark will be cleared at 2:00 and re-opened at 3:00 for the Nashville Sounds game against the Iowa Cubs. Mayor Barry will throw out the ceremonial first pitch at 3:50 prior to the Sounds taking on the Cubs at 4:05.
Tickets to the viewing party and the Sounds game are on sale now at the Nashville Sounds ticket office and online at www.nashvillesounds.com.
A commemorative package including viewing party ticket, Sounds game ticket, and eclipse-themed t-shirt are available and can be purchased at www.ticketmaster.com.
The 2017 season is the Sounds’ 40th in franchise history and their third as the Oakland Athletics’ top affiliate. Single-game tickets are available now by calling (615) 690-4487 or by visiting www.nashvillesounds.com.

Anthony Rendon reached base four times, the Washington bullpen allowed two runs over 5 2/3 innings, and the Nationals beat the Atlanta Braves 10-5 on Sunday.

Rendon scored twice and drove in a pair as the Nationals salvaged a split of the four-game series with the Braves to enter the All-Star break with a 9 1/2-game lead over Atlanta in the National League East.

Washington starter Joe Ross left the game with an apparent injury with one out in the fourth.

Reliever Matt Grace (1-0) allowed two runs, one earned, over 2 2/3 innings. Joe Blanton, Enny Romero and Matt Albers each threw a scoreless inning.

With Washington leading by one, Rendon provided an insurance run in the seventh. He walked, stole second and went to third on a throwing error by catcher Tyler Flowers. Rendon scored on a Matt Wieters’ sacrifice fly.

The Nationals pulled away with three runs in the eighth.

Atlanta’s Johan Camargo had three hits, including a solo home run — his first in the majors — and a walk. Freddie Freeman added a three-run homer and a single.

Chris Heisey’s RBI-double broke a 3-3 tie in the fourth and Wieters smacked a two-run single in the fifth.

Camargo’s homer and a Nick Markakis fielder’s choice pulled Atlanta within 6-5 in the sixth. The second run was unearned following a two-base error on Bryce Harper that allowed Freeman to go all the way to third on a single.

After Ross got Markakis to start the fourth, pitching coach Mike Maddux came out to the mound and was soon joined by the team trainer. Manager Dusty Baker then came out and Ross was removed in favor of Grace.

Ross, whose velocity appeared lower than his norm, allowed three runs on three hits over 3 1/3 innings.

Washington led 3-0 when Ross issued a pair of two-out walks in the third and Freeman followed with his 16th homer of the season.

Atlanta rookie Sean Newcomb (1-4) allowed four runs on four hits over four innings.

Rendon’s two-run double capped a three-run Washington first as Newcomb threw 39 pitches.

Following the All-Star break, the Braves open a three-game series against the Diamondbacks on Friday in Atlanta.

Breyvic Valera launched a solo home run in the top of the 10th inning to help the Memphis Redbirds to a 2-1 win over the Nashville Sounds in front of a sellout crowd of 10,148 Sunday night at First Tennessee Park.

The two teams played to an even 1-1 game after nine innings of play. Valera’s go-ahead shot came on a 1-1 pitch from Kyle Finnegan with two outs in the inning.

Armed with a one-run lead, Redbirds reliever Josh Lucas set the Sounds down in order in the bottom of the 10th to notch his sixth win of the season.

Starters Chris Jensen and Josh Zeid were equally efficient as the game went into the sixth at 0-0. Former Sound Rangel Ravelo started the scoring for Memphis when he plated Harrison Bader with a two-out base hit to right-center.

Nashville bounced right back and evened the game at 1-1 when Mark Canha delivered a two-out, run-scoring single in the bottom half of the sixth.

Neither Jensen nor Zeid factored into the decision. Jensen allowed one run on five hits in six innings. He walked a pair and struck out four. Zeid shut out the Sounds over five innings. He scattered three hits, walked one, and struck out four.

Both bullpens kept the other team off the board until the 10th. Nashville’s Lou Trivino worked two perfect innings and Simon Castro tossed a 1-2-3 ninth.

It looked like Finnegan was going to do the same in the 10th but Valera had other plans. It was the second night in a row a late two-out rally provided the difference for Memphis in the series win.

Joey Wendle and Kenny Wilson had two hits apiece in the loss. At 42-48, the Sounds are 14.5 games back of front-running Memphis at the break.

The Sounds are off for the next three days during the Triple-A All-Star break. The second half of the season begins with a 12-game road trip, beginning with four in Omaha on Thursday.